Transition teams disagree over last-minute recruitments, payments

The incoming government’s transition team claims that despite an agreement that last-minute recruitments and payments must be addressed by the joint transition team, the government continues to undertake such activities without recourse to the agreement.

A statement signed by the spokesperson for the team, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, said that given the bad faith displayed by the government, all those payments, recruitments, transfers and promotions, some of which had been allegedly backdated, will be reversed and where necessary the public officials responsible will be held to strict account when formal transfer of power takes place.

“For the avoidance of doubt, all public officials are strongly cautioned to resist pressure from outgoing political actors to engage in these acts as they could attract severe consequences when the new government takes office,” it added.

Concerns

During the first meeting of the joint transition team, the President-elect’s side raised concerns about such last-minute recruitments and payments.

Subsequently, the joint team agreed that all ongoing significant payments, recruitments and other such activities be submitted for consideration on a case-by-case basis.

"This is to bring clarity to the status of these payments and recruitments and offer an amicable structure to satisfactorily address the issues," Mr Ofosu said.

He said the agreement was reached at the second meeting of the joint team on Friday, December 13, 2024.

It further urged public officials to comply without fail and resist any undue pressures.

The joint team had earlier set up a committee to probe red flags raised over last-minute recruitments by the outgoing government into various ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).

The committee was tasked to determine if the recruitment followed laid down procedures and adhered to a fair process.

It was also required to determine if the Ministry of Finance issued financial clearance before those recruitments were made.

The team will further investigate a pending payment of GH¢240 million to an entity linked to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).

Mr Ofosu later told the Daily Graphic that the meeting sought to institute a committee to probe the issues raised in order to make a determination.

Denial

However, the spokesperson for the Government Transition Team, Fatimatu Abubakar, has denied the allegation, insisting that all ongoing recruitments and payments had received the relevant statutory approvals and had not been proven to be illegal.

“Regarding concerns about ongoing recruitments and payments, it was noted that the government’s term expires at midnight of January 6, 2025. These recruitment and payment processes have received the relevant statutory approvals and have not been proven to be illegal.

“It was decided that any specific allegation of illegality about any particular payment or recruitment should be brought to the attention of the joint team for a decision to be made,” Ms Abubakar explained in a statement.

She expressed surprise over the allegation, saying "The terms of reference of the president's transition committee are what is established by Acts within the Acts; it does not go beyond what the Act does not provide”.

“Kindly disregard any statement purporting to indicate that the committee has taken a decision that all payments and recruitment should be referred to the transition team as same does not reflect the records of the meeting.  

“I would like to reiterate government’s commitment to a seamless transitional process as we prepare to pass the baton to the incoming government on January 7, 2025,” the Information Minister said.

Constitution

Ms Abubakar said pursuant to Article 57 of the 1992 Constitution and the mandate given to the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the government had not departed from that.

Again, she said there could not be a contract without the requisite documentation support or commitment from the Ministry of Finance.